Exclusive! Man of the hour Ranveer Singh on his upcoming films, working with Alia Bhatt and more

Ranveer Singh is living the dream. His is a story of aspiration, ambition, aptitude and attitude. In just seven years, a rank outsider, he’s established himself as one of the most successful leading actors. From playing an upstart Delhi boy in Band Baaja Baaraat to slaying as a warrior king in Bajirao Mastani, his filmography is as kaleidoscopic as his personality. And now, his biggest film till date, Padmaavat has been breaking all box-office records with its success. However, Padmaavat is just the start of a dream run Ranveer will enjoy in the next two years. He has the best line-up of films than anyone else in the business. On one hand, he’s collaborating with his Dil Dhadakne Do director, Zoya Akhtar, for a film on the lives of street rappers. And on the other, he will be doing a masala potboiler with Midas man Rohit Shetty. And to top it all, he’s going to play Kapil Dev in a film based on the 1983 World Cup. To be directed by Kabir Khan, 1983 is being touted as the biggest Indian sports film ever. The excitement in his tone is palpable as he gives insights into each upcoming project. Read on...

Gully Boy

This is my first feature film with Alia Bhatt, my second with Zoya Akhtar… two extremely talented people. It’s a space never explored before, a space I relate to. I’ve a special place in my heart for Hip Hop. It’s a story of underdogs - these two kids, who grow up in tough conditions only to find expression in art and music. I believe it could have only been me in this role. Rapping has been a side skill ever since school. I include a bit of it even while doing ads. I like to write my own stupid lines and rap them. My sincere thanks to Zoya for being patient with me. She has waited since quite some time to make this film. She pitched it to me during Befikre. Zoya and Reema Katgi, our premium writers, have written such a moving script. What also makes Gully Boy special, is that I’m going to play a full-fledged Mumbaiya character. It’s my tribute to my city.

I’ve worked with Alia in ads. People like our pairing. I recently did a fashion show with her. I love Alia’s energy. She’s easygoing and a lot of fun. She has no qualms, no airs about herself. Amidst the ‘divaness’, she’s still a humble and normal girl at heart. It’s wonderful to see her head firmly on her shoulders even after achieving so much success at such a young age. Even when I collaborate with her on ads, though it’s just a day’s work, it becomes memorable. Gully Boy is going to be a breeze.

Simmba

This is a subject that was touched upon in Gunday. But in Simmba, a pure mainstream genre will be dealt with the ‘Bossman’ of that genre – Rohit Shetty! Nobody does mass entertainers with the flair and panache of director Rohit Shetty. He’s so unabashed in his ‘mainstreamness’. And these are the type of films that I love, that I have grown up on. The dialoguebaazi, the action, the raita, the dance, the humour, the drama and the action! I’ve collaborated with him on an ad before. Rohit is a humble man, who deeply values the people he works with. That’s why his trailers say ‘Team Rohit Shetty’. He’s a team player. His team welcomed me like I was one of them. They’re so disciplined, so dedicated, so committed. These are people, who started their journey from the bottom of the ladder. They value the opportunity they have been blessed with. This is an ethos passed on from Rohit Shetty. Everyone is treated as an equal and there’s no hierarchy. Gunday was a two-hero film, this time it will be just me. Whenever I visit the smaller parts of the country, I find people still crazy about Gunday. Even when my car stops at a signal, some magazine vendors, when they spot me, can’t help but shout, ‘Aye Gunday!’ Rohit has worked with the biggest of stars - Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan. I’m happy that from the younger generation, I was selected to be his leading man.

1983

Being part of 1983 (director Kabir Khan), makes me feel honoured. Kabir Khan and Madhu Mantena (producer) came to me saying they wanted to pitch a film - about the 1983 World Cup. Madhu explained why it could never be made till now. Reason being, when showing a team sport, you have to take the life rights of 18 - 20 people, which is a mammoth task. No producer had managed to do it until now. That got me excited. Also I had seen Kabir’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan and found it outstanding. The way in which he told the story was universally pleasing. It had made me cry. It was an entertainer replete with emotions and good performances.

I was born in 1985, an era where cricket was the biggest thing. 1983 made cricket what it is today. It turned the tide. A bunch of rag-tagged underdogs, nobody believed in, went on to win the World Cup. The kind of anecdotes they have are mesmerising. It is the greatest Indian sport story. And it’s insane I was selected to play Kapil Dev. Strangely, during my earlier interviews in 2011, I was asked which personality I would like to play if I were to do a biopic. For some reason, I said Kapil Dev. It just stumbled out of my mouth. I guess there’s some divine connection. Kapil Dev’s contribution in the World Cup victory is outstanding; especially his ‘175 not out’. It was not recorded because BBC went on strike that day. The innings has just one photograph. We will be the first ones to present that moment of history on screen.